The Nigerian military has released a staggering operational update from its counter-terrorism campaign in the Lake Chad basin. In a press briefing held in Maiduguri, outgoing Joint Task Force HADIN KAI commander Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar disclosed the destruction of more than 1,100 militant fighters, the recovery of 638 hostages, and the seizure of a substantial cache of weapons and explosives.
Operation HADIN KAI delivers decisive blow to jihadist factions
Since assuming command in April 2025, the Nigerian Armed Forces have escalated both aerial and ground offensives against Boko Haram and the Islamic State’s West African Province (ISWAP) across critical strongholds in the Sambisa Forest, Mandara Mountains, and Lake Chad periphery. General Abubakar confirmed the elimination of 1,106 militants, dealing a severe blow to the insurgent networks waging war across the region for over a decade.
Weaponry and explosives recovered in sweeping raids
The military operations resulted in the confiscation of 475 firearms, including assault rifles and heavy-caliber arms, alongside a vast stockpile of ammunition. Counter-IED units also neutralized 295 improvised explosive devices (IEDs), a persistent threat that has previously hampered troop mobility and targeted civilian convoys. These seizures have significantly degraded the operational capacity of the remaining insurgent cells.
Logistical networks dismantled, mass surrenders reported
Intelligence-driven operations played a pivotal role in crippling the insurgents’ supply chains. A total of 758 alleged facilitators and logistics personnel—key nodes in sustaining insurgent operations—were detained. These networks, responsible for transporting food, fuel, and communication equipment, are crucial to the survival and tactical execution of the jihadist groups.
In a notable shift, the intensified military pressure has accelerated the rate of defections. HADIN KAI officials reported 969 individuals—comprising active fighters and their dependents—surrendering or fleeing insurgent-controlled zones. These individuals are now being processed through the government’s Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) program.
Humanitarian breakthrough: 638 hostages rescued from insurgent captivity
Beyond battlefield gains, the military’s sustained operations have led to the rescue of 638 civilians from insurgent captivity. Among those freed are vulnerable groups such as women and children abducted during raids on remote villages. Each rescued hostage undergoes thorough medical and psychological evaluation before being handed over to local authorities and humanitarian organizations for rehabilitation and reintegration.
Security gains tempered by persistent challenges
Despite these tactical victories, the Lake Chad region remains under strain. Since Boko Haram’s insurgency began in 2009, the conflict has claimed over 40,000 lives and displaced more than two million people. ISWAP, a splinter faction that pledged allegiance to ISIS in 2016, continues to pose a significant threat through ambush tactics and IED strikes. With the transition in command of Operation HADIN KAI underway, the incoming leadership faces the dual challenge of consolidating recent gains and ensuring the long-term stability of liberated areas to facilitate safe returns for displaced communities.
